Canadian Rural Partnership
Key Rural Initiatives

Federal programs and initiatives available to rural Canada:

Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) - Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
The Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) program will provide funding to beginning and established farmers and their spouses to develop a learning plan and take courses to help them gain the skills they need to reach their goals. CASS will assist farm families to acquire on-farm skills, or skills and training to pursue other income options, or both.
Internet: http://www.agr.gc.ca/ren/index_e.cfm?
s1=cass-scdca&page=intro

Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI) - Government of Canada
CDI has two main components. The Advisory Services component provides expert assistance to groups who want to start new co-operatives, or who need help managing existing ones. The Innovation and Research component will study and demonstrate how co-operatives can be used successfully in new ways. It will show how co-operatives can contribute to economic and social development, community capacity building, and service delivery for disadvantaged or hard-to-reach Canadians.
Internet: http://www.coop.gc.ca/index_e.php?
s1=init&page=intro

Networking Initiative - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Networking Initiative funded three types of rural community projects aimed at building community capacity: learning events, partnerships and networks. The Initiative runs until March 2008.
Internet: http://www.rural.gc.ca/programs/networking_e.phtml

Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario - Industry Canada
Promotes economic growth, diversification, job creation and sustainable communities in Northern Ontario.
Internet: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/
fednor-fednor.nsf/en/h_fn00000e.html

Pan-Canadian Community Futures Network
Designed to stimulate and enhance economic and business development in rural communities throughout Canada:
Internet: http://www.communityfutures.ca/home/index-eng.html

Atlantic Canada - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Community Business Development Corporations
Internet: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/financial/community.shtml

Northwest Territories:
NWT Community Futures Association
Internet: http://www.nwtcfa.ca/

Nunavut:
Business Development Centres of Nunavut
Internet: http://www.communityfutures.ca/home/files/nunavut.html

Ontario
Community Futures Development Corporations
Internet: http://www.ontcfdc.com/frame3.asp?lang=english

Quebec
Canada Economic Development
Internet: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/General/main.asp?LANG=EN

Western Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Internet: http://www.wd.gc.ca/default_e.asp

Yukon:
Business Development Centres of the Yukon
Internet: http://www.communityfutures.ca/home/files/yukon.html

We welcome suggestions - cris@agr.gc.ca